Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed determination to elevate the two countries’ relations during talks in Hanoi on April 17.
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| Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in Hanoi__Photo: VNA |
The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction over the growing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka over the past 47 years since they established diplomatic ties in July 1970.
They agreed to boost cooperation in politics and external affairs via increasing high-level delegation exchanges and promoting relations between the parties, states and parliaments.
The leaders agreed on the need to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including organizing the fourth meeting of the joint committee and the third political consultation this year.
They pledged to step up collaboration in security-defense and share information and experience in legal execution, combating cross-border crime, addressing post-war consequences and joining UN peacekeeping activities.
To realize the two-way trade target of USD 1 billion in the coming years, the two sides vowed to urge agencies to map out measures to deepen bilateral cooperation in such fields as oil and gas, infrastructure, information technology and communications, garment-textile, farm produce processing and distribution, and seafood.
The Prime Ministers agreed to implement the agreement on investment encouragement and protection and sign new cooperation deals for new circumstances.
They were committed to prioritizing cooperation in other important fields such as energy, tourism, education, human resources development, and cultural exchanges.
They stressed the importance of aviation connectivity, which will help promote bilateral trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
The host and guest vowed to work together at regional and international forums, while strengthening cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Both sides stressed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea as well as navigation and aviation safety, removing trade barriers and settling disputes and differences via peaceful means and in line with international law.
After the talks, the Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of two cooperation agreements, including a cooperation plan on agricultural development during 2017-19, and a cooperation agreement on education during 2017-21.- (VNS/VLLF)
